He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job 1:21 (NRSV)

To secure a ship at a pier or in shallow waters sailors rely on anchors. The concept is simple enough — attached by a chain to the ship, the anchor drops into the water and “hooks” itself into the bottom. This done, the ship is secure and will not drift. Yet since you can’t see it underwater, how do you know it’s in place? How do you know the ship is secure? You know because the anchor chain is visibly taunt and securely attached, even underwater. Then the ship holds firmly and that makes for confidence.

Despite his sudden and unexpected struggles, Job affirmed his confidence in God when he cried out. His anchor of faith was fixed firmly in the Lord, and though the causes of his problems were not visible, he knew he was secure and immovable. Despite what had happened, he trusted the Lord implicitly.

We will probably never experience all that Job did, but we can also have the same confidence in the same God because our faith is secure in him. As the hymn writer put it: “When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil.”

Father, Show me daily how to keep my anchor of faith secure. In Jesus’ name. Amen.